Summary:

The city is surrounded by the enemy, whose presence is diffuse, but not visible. Fear sneaks into the streets, creeps into the yards, sneaks into the houses. Lucia, the wife of a wealthy merchant, tries to secure a place on the last ship to leave port, but it's too late. The enemy invades the city quietly, without fanfare and trumpets. There are secret, isolated killings taking place in some neighborhoods, but no one is prepared to believe that the tragedy that will unfold – it has already begun.